HF 90599 45 Watt Kit

[coldspot]

 Yesterday I bought the Harbor Freight kit.

 # 90599

 Sale price of $179.00 USD, with 15% off coupon

 Total after states sales tax added

 $161.28

 This kit has the newer control box, it looks pretty nice to me but I'll just use it as a power panel and use a different charge controller.

 Now I'll have to get back to my pipe over pipe, powered with automotive window motor, RedRok tracking system.

 But I might just wait for my new to me camp trailer to see about setting that system up with it.

 I got offered a 1969 Ideal travel trailer a few months back by a very fine older fellow.

 When he heard what I was willing to pay for a little 10' trailer I wanted to buy,($300. new tires).

 All I wanted is a mobile shop/shed office, after the last two moves I've thought very hard about everything needing to be on wheels from now on!

 He asked if I wanted one that small and told me he would sell me his 18' dual axle for $200., SOLD I said!

 He redid the inside two years back putting in a new toilet and every thing else is in working order.

 This comes with two propane tanks and a three old battery.

 I really should go back and look at this again, I have only seen it from a couple hundred yards away not wanting to walk out to it in 4' of snow !!!

 Now that the snow might be about gone and knowing how to get inside, a closer look is in order.  

[ZooT]

I've heard about the newer control box, but haven't heard whether they're as nice a working unit as the old ones were.

Heck.....if it's a better unit than the old ones were, it might be worth using...

[Phssthpok]

I have seen the new controller and it is indeed a MUCH nicer unit. Red digital numeric readout for voltage as opposed to a string of LED's, and it has a 'brushed aluminum' look with (if I recall correctly) rubber bumpers on the corners. Almost looks like one of those small metal cases you'd see a sensitive electronic component carried in.

Also, it appeared to be sealed, instead of vented. I still wouldn't trust it to open weather, but I'd be much more confident in it's ability to withstand a non-environmentally controlled (cold n damp) battery room, garage or shed.

I'm actually planning on picking up a (THIRD!!) set particularly to get one of those new controllers. Both my old ones (which I only used as power centers) died. The sale price/15% coupon, and no sales tax where I'm buying makes it about $153 bucks!

[TheCasualTraveler]

How do you get a HF 15% coupon?

[motoman465]

Andy,

You can either go on-line or in-store and sign up for their mailing list.  You will periodically get flyers with special offers and coupons.

Todd

[Basil]

I bought the HF panels to get my feet wet in solar. Mine has the new type box and it works great. No problems.

[feral air]

Careful on that trailer. Definitely get up under it and give it a good look over. If you don't you might end up with a flatbed when it's all said and done. Been there, done that. take it easy

[jonas302]

someone else posted this site for harbor freight coupons a while back

http://www.billt.com/harborfreight.htm

[coldspot]

 Hey-

 You guys that have one or more of these sets-

 Are they sealed good enough for 44` lat weather??

or should I plan on doing something about it?

The panels, not the rest of it,..  LOL  

I'd like a few more of those 12 VDC 5 Watt CF lights

if they are available and priced right..

[Bruce S]

Not up that far North, but down here in MO, we had 10" in one day and my panels did juts fine. I checked them after sweeping the snow off and once the snow was moved they popped right back up in higher voltage.

The CFLs, I haven't been able to find a place that sells them seperate from the panels. You could probably find similar on a RV website.

Hope that helps

Bruce S

BTW: I use rain-x on the outside of the panels before winter starts, seems to help during the rainy season for keeping airborne dirt off.

[coldspot]

 Does anybody know if these have "Blocking Diodes"

 or do I need to add one to each panel,,..  ?

[ghurd]

They seem to change them from time to time.

Open the box on the back and look!  And tighten the screws while you are in there.

If the box is potted (full of epoxy), probably have to take it in the house, wrap it in a blanket, connect it to a 13.5V battery and ammeter.  See if more than 2ma is leaving the battery.

If a diode is added, make it way oversized.  Don't use a generic 3A.  Go at least 6A for each panel.  Avoids problems later.

G-